Commutator



T. P. HARBOUR AND B. B. BRINNON.

COMMUTATOR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 19. 1919.

Patented Sept. 21,1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS P. HARBOUR AND BURLEIGH B. BRINNON, OF BELLEFONTAINE, OHIO.

COMMUTATOB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1920.

- Applicationnled September 19, 1919. Serial No. 324,762.

To all whom it may con cern Be it known that we, THOMAS P, HARBOUR and BURLEIGH B. BRrNNoN, citizens of the United States, residing at Bcllefontainc', in the county of Logan and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Commutators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in commutators especially adapted for use on internal combustion engines in connection with the ignition system of the same.

An important object of this invention is to provide a commutator having novel means for pressing the rotary contact into engagement with the stationary contacts with a uniform degree of pressure whereby a good electrical connection is provided between the rotary and stationary contacts.

A further object of this invention is to provide. a commutator having novel means for connecting the rotary contact to the op-' crating shaft whereby the rotary contact may be readily removed for the purpose of cleaning etc.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a commutator having novel means foruniformly pressing the rotary contact into engagement with the stationary contacts whereby the use of lubricants in the com mutator might be dispensed with.

A further object of the invention is to provide a commutatorwhich is efil cient, of highly simplified construction and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description. v

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same: 7

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a commutator having the improved rotary contact applied to the same;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the lmproved rotary contact and associated elements;

Fig. 3 is a perspective ofthe commutator having a modified form of rotary contact.

In the drawing'wherein for the purpose of' illustration is. shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 gen-' erally designates a conical cover having an annular band 6. A plurality of binding posts 7 extend through the annular band 6 and have connection with feed wires 8 which extend to spark lugsof an internal com-- bustion engine. 11 arm 9 is secured to the shell and has pivotal connection with an operating lever 10 through the medium of a pin 11. The operating lever 10 is adapted for adjusting the commutator casing 5 to either retard or advance the spark in the motor as desired.

The binding posts 7 extend through an annular insulator 12 arranged within the band 6 and having embedded therein a plurality of spaced relatively stationary contacts 13.

In the form of our invention illustrated in Figs. 1' and 2, a split collar 14' is arranged about one end of a cam shaft 15 and is adapted to be securely attachedto the same by a screw bolt 15 which is extended through a pair of apertured cars 16. A plurality of fiat'leaf springs 17 are secured between the apertured cars 16 and are rigidly held in position by the screw bolt 15. A rotary con" tact brush 18 is mounted on the outer end portion of the springs 17 and is provided with a pair of attaching arms 19 which extend. throughthc springs 17 andare bent upon the same for securely connecting the outer ends of the springs 17 and positioning the brush. The springs. 17 have their outer end portions curved transversely as indicated at 20 for. squarely presenting the curved outer side 21 of the brush 1% to the stationary contacts 13. During the rotation of the cam shaft 15, the brush 18 is forced into uniform engagement with the contacts 13 by the action of the springs 17 and by The uniform pressure centrifugal force. on the brush 18 causes the contacts 13 and the surface of the annular insulating memher 12 to wear evenly and thereby greatly prolongs the life of the. commutator. The springs 17 and the brush 18 may be of any suitable material capable of conducting the electrical current. The uniform contact between the rounded surface 21 of the brush 18 and the stationary contacts 13 dispenses with the necessity of employing oil for lubricating the commutator.

In theform of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3 an attaching collar 22 is adapted to 27. In this form of the invention the screw bolt 27 extends through alining openings in the springs 17 and theear 26 and serves to detachably secure the springs 17 in position. As in the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, the brush 18 is mounted on the outer end portions of the springs 17 and is caused to engage the contacts 13' with a uni-.

form degree of pressure.

In the practice of the invention, the collars are arranged on the cam shafts and the springs 17. are subsequently secured to the collar. The application of the commutator casing brings the outer curved surface 21 of the brush 18 into engagement with the stationary contacts 13. During the rotary movement of the contact 18, the curved outer surface of the same is presented to the 'stationary contacts and by reason of the uniform pressure exerted by the springs ,17, a good electrical contact is provided between the stationary and, rotary contacts. The

- curved outer surface of the contact 18 also causes the stationary contacts and the inner surface of the insulator 12. to wear evenly and eliminates the necessity of lubricatingthe' commutator.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A'commutator-including a rotary member, a plurality of leaf springs detachably secured at their'inner end portions to said rotary member, the outer end portions of said leaf springs being provided with openings,

and a contact having a pair of attaching arms extending through the openings in said springs and being bent upon the same for connecting the leaf springs and supporting said contact.

2. A commutator including a rotary mem-, ber, a plurality of superposed longitudinally curved leaf springs having connection with tured ears, a plurality of leaf springs having their rear end portions apertured and arranged between said apertured ears, a fastening device extending through said apertured ears and said leaf springs for connecting the springs and for securing the collar rigidly to the shaft, and a contact element carried by the outer portions of said leaf springs and having means for connecting the same.

tures.

-THOMAS P. HARBOUR. {L1 s.-]-, BURLEIGH B. BRINNON. [1,. s.]

In testimony whereof we afiix our signa- 

